A team of
scientists led by a Northumbria University academic has won funding to research
an eye disease suffered by over 190 million people worldwide.
The
award, from the Academy of Medical Sciences’ Springboard
scheme, will help fund ground-breaking techniques to study age-related macular degeneration
(AMD), a common disease that affects vision, particularly in the
elderly.
It
is believed that the research, led by Dr Gerrit
Hilgen,
Assistant Professor in Northumbria’s Department of
Applied Sciences, has the potential to lead to new treatments for AMD and could
also help develop new and faster ways to diagnose and prevent the condition.
The
macula is part of the retina at the back of eye that allows you to see fine
detail and is responsible for our central vision. Macula cells can deteriorate
for a number of reasons, the most common being ageing, but smoking, poor diet,
high blood pressure and genetic history can all play a part too.
The
risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration increases from 2%
for those aged 50-59, to nearly 30% for those over the age of 75. In 2020, the
condition was believed to affect more than 190 million people globally and this
figure is expected to rise to 288 million people by 2040 as the elderly
population increases.
The
symptoms of AMD include blurred vision, difficulty seeing in low light, and
seeing straight lines as wavy. The condition can develop slowly over several
years or can develop very quickly. To date, there is no cure.
The
funding of £100,000 will support the study into the causes of AMD at a cellular
level. The research team will examine human induced pluripotent stem cell
(iPSC) AMD models. PSCs are lab-created cells that can be used to generate any
type of human cell required for therapeutic purposes.
In
addition, cells can be created at different stages of development. This allows
researchers to study the development of diseases and the effects of treatment
at different stages.
Dr
Gerrit Hilgen, Assistant Professor in Neuroscience, said: “Our project is at
the forefront of discovery and translational science. It uses innovative techniques
of human iPSC models of AMD disease and a cutting-edge multidimensional
approach.
“This award will help us study the
different types of cellular mechanisms in
human iPSC models of AMD, and how they work together. This will help us better
understand AMD as well as find new ways to treat the disease.”
Dr
Hilgen’s team includes colleagues from Northumbria University, and researchers
from Newcastle University, and the University of Tuebingen in Germany.
The Academy of Medical Sciences’ Springboard scheme offers a bespoke package of
support to biomedical researchers at the start of their first independent post
to help launch their research careers.
Professor
Dianne Ford, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at
Northumbria University, said: “These awards are highly competitive and
prestigious. The fact that Gerrit has secured this award is testament to the
excellence of his research and clear future promise to become a leader in his
field, as well as to the quality of the environment we offer at Northumbria for
developing researchers. As Northumbria
University’s Springboard Champion, I look forward to supporting the progress of
Gerrit’s research, as well as that of our other talented researchers applying
in the next and future rounds.”
Dr
Suzanne Candy, Director of Biomedical Grants & Policy at the Academy of
Medical Sciences, said: “Together
with our partners, we are fortunate to be able to support this talented group
of researchers doing excellent science. Our strategic ambition is to help
create an open and progressive research sector. By investing in these
individuals and teams, we are broadening the range of people and disciplines
engaged in biomedical and health research, across all regions of the UK, and
globally.
“We
look forward to supporting our award recipients and seeing how their research
has a positive impact on the health of people everywhere.”
Recently
named Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year, Northumbria
University has announced ambitious plans to develop its Centre for
Health and Social Equity, bringing together academics working on health, social care,
education, wellbeing and equity issues onto one central base in the heart of
Newcastle, on the University’s City Campus.
